Hymns With A Message: MY WONDERFUL LORD

Sunday, November 10, 2019

MY WONDERFUL LORD

It is hard to find words meaningful enough to describe the Lord and His relationship to His children. Like many hymn writers, Haldor Lillenas (1885 – 1959) chose to use the word wonderful - "inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvelous". in this week's hymn choice. And truly the Lord is wonderful. And as we yield our all, our body and soul, to Him we experience the deep peace which He provides to His children. The Bible reminds us of the need to dedicate our lives to the Lord. "I beseech (urge) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). Lillenas was born in Norway and at the age of two immigrated with his mother and two brothers to South Dakota. Lillenas indicated that soon after his conversion at the age of 21, he began to increasingly write hymns and songs that expressed his faith and joy. Lillenas was a prolific composer of hymns, and it is estimated that he wrote some 4,000 hymns, and supplied songs for many evangelists. In 1924 he founded the Lillenas Music Co. in Indianapolis. Now I must admit that I struggled for quite some time before sharing this week's hymn because of the phrase in the chorus, "I bow at Thy shrine, my Saviour divine." What shrine? And why would I bow at some shrine? He is not dead. His tomb is empty. He is now seated on a royal throne, at the right hand of the Father in heaven as our Intercessor. Robert Catrill. in his blog Wordwise Hymns, suggests changing this line to: "I know Thou art mine," I agree and have made that change in the words below. After making that change, I challenge you to claim these words as your testimony. Have you yielded your all to the Lord? Have you found the deep peace that results from this dedication? Indeed, our Lord, the ancient of days, is deserving of all our praise. Is He your wonderful, wonderful Lord? Have you yielded your all to Him?

1 I have found a deep peace

that I never had known

And a joy this world could not afford

Since I yielded control of my body and soul

To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.

My wonderful Lord, my wonderful Lord

By angels and seraphs

in Heaven adored

I know Thou art mine!

My Savior divine

My wonderful, wonderful Lord

2 All the talents I have I have laid at thy feet